Recent News

2019 General Assembly: Bills We're Watching: 6th Edition

A profile of the environmental, conservation, consumer and general government bills that the Kentucky Resources Council is supporting, opposing, and tracking during the 2019 General Assembly Regular Session, complete through March 7, 2019

House Bill 420 Requires Cabinet To Deny Public Access To Radon Information

HB 420, sponsored by Rep. Adam Bowling, would revise laws governing radon contractor certification. A Committee Substitute added language deny public access to agency records regarding radon measurement, jeopardizing public health.

PETITION FILED TO PROTECT WATER SUPPLY SOURCES OF THE HISTORIC TOWNS OF BENHAM AND LYNCH FROM STRIP MINING

Four residents of Harlan County have petitioned to designate the historic districts of the towns Benham and Lynch, Kentucky, the viewshed of those districts, and the water sources of the towns as unsuitable for strip mining.

2019 General Assembly: Bills We're Watching: 5th Edition

This list profiles the environmental, conservation, consumer and general government bills that the Kentucky Resources Council is supporting, opposing, and tracking during the 2019 General Assembly complete through end of day March 1, 2019.

Protecting Benham and Lynch from Expanded Mining

A petition to designate the historic districts within the cities of Benham and Lynch Kentucky and the viewshed from those districts, and the watersheds that provide the water supply for the towns as areas unsuitable for mining has been drafted by KRC

HB 199 Would Create a Framework for Plugging 14,000 Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells Across the State

Over the past 5 years, a working group comprised of oil and gas operators, landowner representatives, agency officials, and the Kentucky Resources Council, have developed several bills that have modernized regulation of oil and gas operations.

Kentucky American Water Company's SB 163 is Unfair to Ratepayers - KRC Provides Extensive Comments Opposing the Bill

SB 163 would allow Kentucky-American Water Company to overvalue water systems it acquires and use that overvaluation to justify rate increases. KRC provided an extensive analysis as to why SB 163 is a bad deal for ratepayers.

KRC's Director Testifies Against SB 2

SB 2 allows a state agency or the General Assembly when sued to request, without any basis or reason, a change of venue that would be determined by a random lottery. KRC director, Tom FitzGerald, testified against the bill.

Amendment to SB 100 Addresses Most Concerns with the Latest Utility Industry Effort to Kill Rooftop Solar

The original version of SB 100 was a utility-crafted bill intended to end the net metering of electricity and corner the market on the sun. House Floor Amendment 1 address most of KRC's concerns with the original bill.

2019 General Assembly: Bills We're Watching: 4th Edition

Read more about the environmental, consumer and general government bills that the Kentucky Resources Council is supporting, opposing, and tracking during the 2019 General Assembly Regular Session, complete through end of day February 22, 2019.

2019 General Assembly: Bills We're Watching: 2nd Edition

These are the bills and resolutions that the Kentucky Resources Council is supporting, opposing, and tracking during the 2019 General Assembly Regular Session, complete through end of legislative day February 8, 2019.

2019 General Assembly: Bills We're Watching: 1st Edition

These are the bills and resolutions we're tracking in the 2019 Legislative Session

Public Service Commission Ordered To Allow Participation In LG&E Rate Case By Low-Income Advocates And Sierra Club

The Franklin Circuit Court granted a Temporary Injunction ordering the Public Service Commission to allow low-income and environmental advocacy groups to participate in pending LG&E and KU rate cases.

Court of Appeals Decision Strikes Underprotective Coal Ash Regulations

In an August 21, 2018 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit remanded several regulations on coal ash disposal, promulgated under the Obama Administration, which the Court found to be underprotective of the environment.

PSC Order Accepts Complaint Against Gas Utility Discontinuing Service

In a September 7, 2018 Order, the PSC has directed Peoples Gas Ky LLC to respond to a complaint by Georgia Johnson that their plan to discontinue gas service violates their duty to furnish adequate service. Peoples Gas has ten days to respond.

KRC Assists In Challenge To VA Hospital Proposal

KRC is working with the StroboBarkley law firm in the City of Crossgate's challenge to decision of the VA to build a new hospital on Brownsboro Road. The suit raises questions of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act by the VA.

Effort By LG&E and KU To Trim Energy Efficiency Programs Awaits PSC Ruling

LG&E and KU's most recent demand-side management and energy efficiency filing proposes to eliminate several programs for residential customers. KRC represents the Metro Housing Coalition in the case, which awaits decision by the PSC.

Public Service Commission Denies LG&E and KU Application To Deploy "Smart Meters"

In an Order entered on August 30, 2018, the Kentucky Public Service Commission denied the request by LG&E and KU to Deploy Smart Meters, ruling that the utilities provided insufficient evidence to justify expense.

Thousands Oppose ORSANCO's Proposal to Eliminate Water Pollution Control Standards for the Ohio River

KRC's Director, Tom FitzGerald, serves as a federal Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) commissioner and made comments opposing ORSANCO's proposal to eliminate water pollution standards for the Ohio River.

Request for Determination Regarding Applicability Of KRS 224.40.